African leaders set to finalize Mali force, but questions over funding
Source: Agencies |
January 20, 2013, Sunday
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AFRICAN leaders meeting in Ivory Coast yesterday expected to sign off on a regional mission to take over from French forces fighting al Qaeda-linked militants in Mali, but which is still short on financing and planning.
France has carried out air strikes and deployed ground troops to halt an Islamist advance, acting to prevent militants from tightening their grip on Mali's northern desert zone and using it as a springboard for attacks in Africa and on the West.
The stakes rose dramatically this week when Islamist gunmen cited the French intervention as a pretext to attack a desert gas plant in neighboring Algeria and seize hostages. An unknown number have been killed and more than 20 foreigners were still captive or missing yesterday.
The crisis has forced African nations to accelerate their own planned mission to Mali, which was originally not expected before September.
A Western diplomat following the process said there were many uncertainties, even though heads of state were expected to formally confirm pledges to dispatch some 5,000 African soldiers to join French forces in Mali.
"That's the process. But the content is still a bit of a question mark and that's hopefully what they're going to explain to us now," the diplomat said.
Nigeria and Togo have already started their deployments, with Niger, Burkina Faso and Chad expected soon. But the diplomat said the mission, which secured United Nations Security Council backing late last year, remained "fluid."
"The troops are meant to go with 10-day self-sufficiency. But there's nothing in place to say what happens after," the diplomat said. "Who's going to pay for this, and what mechanisms are going to pay for it? The money is a big question."
The bombing of a rebel column by French aircraft has halted an advance towards the central Malian towns of Mopti and Sevare.
The town of Konna was seized back from the insurgents this week, but there were conflicting reports yesterday about another town, Diabaly.
Malian sources said French and Malian forces had entered Diabaly after it was abandoned by the insurgents on Friday.
However, French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said there were no Malian or French soldiers in Diabaly.
France has carried out air strikes and deployed ground troops to halt an Islamist advance, acting to prevent militants from tightening their grip on Mali's northern desert zone and using it as a springboard for attacks in Africa and on the West.
The stakes rose dramatically this week when Islamist gunmen cited the French intervention as a pretext to attack a desert gas plant in neighboring Algeria and seize hostages. An unknown number have been killed and more than 20 foreigners were still captive or missing yesterday.
The crisis has forced African nations to accelerate their own planned mission to Mali, which was originally not expected before September.
A Western diplomat following the process said there were many uncertainties, even though heads of state were expected to formally confirm pledges to dispatch some 5,000 African soldiers to join French forces in Mali.
"That's the process. But the content is still a bit of a question mark and that's hopefully what they're going to explain to us now," the diplomat said.
Nigeria and Togo have already started their deployments, with Niger, Burkina Faso and Chad expected soon. But the diplomat said the mission, which secured United Nations Security Council backing late last year, remained "fluid."
"The troops are meant to go with 10-day self-sufficiency. But there's nothing in place to say what happens after," the diplomat said. "Who's going to pay for this, and what mechanisms are going to pay for it? The money is a big question."
The bombing of a rebel column by French aircraft has halted an advance towards the central Malian towns of Mopti and Sevare.
The town of Konna was seized back from the insurgents this week, but there were conflicting reports yesterday about another town, Diabaly.
Malian sources said French and Malian forces had entered Diabaly after it was abandoned by the insurgents on Friday.
However, French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said there were no Malian or French soldiers in Diabaly.
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